Politics around Sandeshkhali will come to fore in March : All eyes on PM Modi's March 6 rally at Barasat

 BJP's Mission 370 is linked to West Bengal in more ways than one; and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's election-related sojourn in this eastern state will be inherently linked to Sandeshkhali.

Modi has three major programmes lined up in the Mamata Banerjee-ruled state in first week of March. One of the main events that the Prime Minister is likely to address will be at Barasat in North 24 Parganas.

Sandeshkhali does not fall under this parliamentary segment but it is only about 80 km away. Modi is expected to speak specifically on Sandeshkhali crisis vis-a-vis sheer goondaism, atrocities against women and land grabbing. 

Prior to that of course Modi’s other two meetings will be in Arambagh and Krishnanagar on March 1 and 2, respectively. The Krishnanagar meet will be interesting to see as vocal Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra represented the seat until her expulsion from the Lok Sabha in December last year over the issue of Cash for Questions scam. 

Of course, Modi’s visits align with the BJP’s aim of wresting the two seats in 2024. The BJP given a tough fight but lost the Arambagh Lok Sabha seat to the TMC in 2019 by a slender margin of 1,142 votes.  

As far as Sandeshkhali fiasco is concerned, the Mamata Banerjee-led dispensation is already on backfoot.

However, the TMC has planned a massive rally at the Brigade Parade grounds in Kolkata on March 10. 

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The Brigade Parade grounds rally by Trinamool has been planned as a counter to the allegations of poor governance. 

Party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, nephew of Mamata, has said that “March 10 will be a trailer on the anti-people leaders of the BJP and those who oppose Bengal. The film will be released during elections." 

He also alleged that, "For two years, a conspiracy has been on to deprive Bengal. They (Modi government) stopped funds for two financial years. If the BJP leaders can provide any evidence that funds were indeed released for 2022-23 and 2023-24, I will quit politics.”

The island-village of Sandeshkhali has witnessed fierce protests since February 9 against local TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh, who is accused of sexual exploitation, land grabbing and other malpractices. Angry villagers, especially women, have taken to the streets demanding the arrest of Shahjahan and his men.

Shahjahan is on the run. Mamata's party-cadre-friendly 'police' have arrested three of his alleged accomplices. 

Nirapada Sardar, a former CPI(M) MLA from Sandeshkhali and now a local BJP leader, has also been arrested for allegedly instigating violence.

 Sardar was granted bail by the Calcutta High Court on February 27.

Sandeshkhali falls under Basirhat Lok Sabha seat and the seat is represented by incumbent TMC MPNusrat Jahan.

West Bengal Police on Sunday, Feb 25, detained a local TMC leader Ajit Maiti at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas on charges of land grabbing from villagers, an officer said.

Maiti, considered a close aide of fugitive Shajahan Sheikh, was detained from the residence of a civic volunteer where he had locked himself for over four hours after being chased by villagers, he said.

"When Modi will speaking on these issues, it will do wonders for the BJP electorally and also give much needed sense of confidence to the exploited Hindus from lower segments of the society," says one local BJP leader. 

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